It’s been a few weeks since I’ve run a power rankings update, but after a three-game win streak it felt like a good barometer check for how the national media feels about these Denver Broncos.
The answer was that there is no consensus and they have Denver all over the map in these rankings. From the best spot at third in the NFL to the worst at twelfth. The consensus seems to be around the sixth or seventh spot if you take out the extremes.
That could all change this week is the Broncos take care of business at home against the Kansas City Chiefs. They will move into first place in the AFC West and put the Chiefs into ‘catch-up’ mode after being one of the only unbeaten teams in the NFL just two days ago.
Here’s how the Broncos are doing in this week’s power rankings around the web:
> The offense showed signs of life against the Cardinals. That’s progress. Maybe it took a long touchdown run for Bo Nix to get him going this season.
> Take that, Ryan Fitzpatrick.
> Rookie running back Jonah Coleman has played in only three games because of an [ankle injury](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50036843/broncos-place-rb-jonah-coleman-ankle-ir), and he might win the impact-per-snap-played quotient, but Waddle leads the Broncos in receptions (26) and receiving yards (276). His numbers would likely look better if he had not been caught up in the swirl of Denver’s passing struggles. Waddle left Sunday’s game because of an apparent shoulder injury, but if it’s not serious and the Broncos can simply get him the ball more, his output will improve along with their offense.
> It’s unfair to just eliminate three long plays for a team and judge it on the rest of its production. Those explosive plays are earned. And the Broncos got a 62-yard touchdown run from Bo Nix, a 52-yard touchdown on a short pass to RJ Harvey and a 47-yard catch to Marvin Mims Jr. that set up a touchdown.
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> On the Broncos’ other 53 plays, they gained only 216 yards. That’s a middling 4 yards per play. Still, Sunday was another win. The Broncos are 5-2 and the Chiefs’ loss on Sunday sets up a game that should frame the rest of the AFC West race as the Chiefs visit Denver in Week 8. The Broncos will have to find some consistency on offense and they have a few key injuries to track: receiver Jaylen Waddle has a chest injury, defensive lineman Zach Allen hurt his hamstring and cornerback Pat Surtain II has missed three straight games with an ankle injury.
> Bo Nix looked like a functional quarterback Sunday in the team’s best offensive showing of the season. Next, he gets the opportunity to make up for Week 1’s disappearing act in Kansas City.
> The Broncos may have scored 30 points against the Cardinals, but this team still has a Bo Nix problem. He scored on a 62-yard run of his own and threw a short pass that RB R.J. Harvey turned into a 52-yard score. But other than that, the Broncos quarterback was once again unimpressive and downright shaky. Maybe this is just the way it’s going to be. The Broncos are just going to keep finding a way to win. But Nix is probably going to have to get it together at some point — like, perhaps, next Sunday against the Chiefs.
> Finally, the Denver Broncos got a little juice instead of being held back by the quarterback position.
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> Bo Nix opened up the Broncos offense with a 62-yard touchdown run. More importantly, the third-year quarterback began to push the ball downfield more against the Arizona Cardinals than he did during Denver’s previous six games.
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> As a result, the Broncos built a halftime lead and continued to score on their first three second-half drives.
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> The performance was a welcome change of pace after Denver struggled to get anything going during the first half of previous contests, which makes the Broncos a more complete team as the season progresses.
What do you think of these power rankings? Share in the comments section below!
See More:
* [Denver Broncos Power Rankings](/denver-broncos-power-rankings)